INDIANAPOLIS -- Two of the greatest shooters in the world met up on a glass LED floor in a football stadium for a 3-point contest to remember.

This wasn't the traditional version, filled with NBA stars. This was something new.

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry dueled New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu in a battle of their record-breaking 3-point acts. It was one-on-one, played out like the finale of the normal contest that took place just moments before at the NBA All-Star festivities at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Curry answered a hot start from Ionescu by burying the final stretch of buckets to pull out a 29-26 victory. Both players matched or exceeded the scores of all the first-round shooters in the official 3-point event, which Damian Lillard ended up winning for the second straight year.

"That was perfect, in a way," Curry said. "It was great entertainment, great shooting on both sides and an awesome 70 seconds for both of us."

This was a meeting of legends in the men's and women's games.

Curry is in his 10th All-Star Game, a two-time MVP who is leading the NBA in 3-point field goals for the eighth time in his career.

Ionescu in only in her fourth season after entering as the No. 1 overall pick, but she is a two-time All-Star who last season set the WNBA record for regular-season 3-pointers made.

The two kicked off what they hope to be a new tradition on Saturday night at the All-Star festivities, a showdown between the best shooters on the men's and women's side. They've already had talks about expanding the event to a 2-on-2 format next year.

Curry has his running mate picked out, though he declined to reveal who it is. Ionescu is looking for hers.

One option could be Caitlin Clark, who could become a professional this summer, when the Iowa superstar is expected to go No. 1 in the WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever.

"I'm open to any partner that can help me win and take that belt that he has front and center away," Ionescu said.

She pointed at the wrestling-style championship belt Steph won in the event, which sat at the press conference table they shared.

This was a competition, but it was also a moment of unity in the game. Like all aspiring 3-point shooters, Ionescu has looked up to Curry's 3-point mastery for years. And Curry has admired Ionescu's skills from afar, enough to have his two daughters meet her after a game between Oregon and California a few years ago.

"You see a different demeanor and a different kind of killer instinct and focus," Curry said of Ionescu. "I mean, the skill is one thing, but the mentality is a whole totally different thing that you can't teach."

Said Ionescu: "What both of us have done our entire careers is just created our own space and done it our way and stayed true to ourselves, and this so was authentic for the both of us to be able to be here."

The hope now is that it inspires the next wave of sharp-shooters.

"We just want to change the conversation on the little boys and girls who are watching us play," Curry said. "It doesn't matter which game you show up to. Don't discount who is to your left and to your right. If they can shoot, they can shoot. You can compete and you can have fun.

"Hopefully, we can be models for what it looks like on the biggest stage."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu: Curry wins 3-point battle